Post-harvest residues of field pea/oat mixtures as a source of biological nitrogen for hybrid winter rye

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe conducted studies show post-harvest residues of sowing/pea mixtures limit leaching of mineral nitrogen deeper into the soil profile compared to post-harvest residues of sowing peas, as they affect the yield and amount of nitrogen accumulated in hybrid winter rye grain. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the post-harvest residue biomass of field pea, oat and their mixtures on yielding and quantity of nitrogen accumulated in hybrid winter rye grain. Two factors were examined: factor I − post-harvest residues of field pea 100% − pure stand, oat 100% − pure stand, field pea 75% + oat 25%, field pea 50% + oat 50%, field pea 25% + oat 75%; factor II − forecrop harvest date: the stage of field pea flowering, the stage of field pea flat green pod. The obtained results demonstrated that the lowest mineral nitrogen content in two soil layers was recorded following oat harvested at the stage of field pea flat green pod. The research revealed that hybrid winter rye cultivated after the mixture consisting of 50% field pea and 50% oat should be recommended for wide agricultural application in order to obtain high grain yield.